[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 136 (Friday, October 3, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10320-S10321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Burns, and Mr. 
        Stevens):
  S. 1250. A bill to authorize appropriations for the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, 
and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.


the national aeronautics and space administration fiscal years 1998 and 
                         1999 authorization act

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the authorization bill 
for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal years 
1998 and 1999. I would like to thank the cosponsors of this bill, 
Senator Rockefeller, Senator Burns, and Senator Stevens, as well as 
others who support this bill, for their hard work and dedication to 
making this bill a possibility.
  NASA's unique mission of exploration, discovery, and innovation has 
preserved the U.S. role as both a leader in world aviation and as the 
preeminent spacefaring nation. It is NASA's mission to: Explore, use 
and enable the development of space for human enterprise; advance 
scientific knowledge and understanding of the Earth, the Solar System, 
and the Universe and use the environment of space for research; and 
research develop, verify and transfer advanced aeronautics, space and 
related technologies.
  This bill, which authorizes NASA for $13.6 billion in fiscal year 
1998 and $13.8 billion in fiscal year 1999, provides for the continued 
development of the international space station, space shuttle 
operations and safety and performance upgrades, space science, life and 
micro gravity sciences and applications, the Mission to Planet Earth 
Program, aeronautics and space transportation technology, mission 
communications, academic programs, mission support, and the office of 
the inspector general.
  With this authorization the committee puts in place a sound plan 
under which NASA can provide assurances to the Congress that the cost 
and schedule difficulties of the international space station have been 
contained. In addition, the bill has been crafted to protect to the 
maximum extent possible the balance between manned and unmanned flight 
as well as the balance between development activities and science.
  Therefore, I, along with my cosponsors urge the Members of this body 
to support this bill and allow NASA to continue its mission of support 
for all space flight, for technological progress in aeronautics, and 
for space science.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I am proud to be a cosponsor of the NASA 
authorization bill for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, introduced by 
Senator Frist, chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and 
Space and Senator Rockefeller, the ranking minority member. I would 
like to take this opportunity to thank both Senator Frist and Senator 
Rockefeller for helping to craft a bipartisan bill which balances the 
goals and missions of our space agency within fiscal responsibility.
  This bill authorizes the full $1.4 billion requested by NASA for 
Mission to Planet Earth. As many of you know, I'm a strong supporter of 
this program because it is about using satellite technology to help 
average citizens in their everyday activities. The goal of this program 
is to provide farmers, land planners, foresters, scientists and others 
with cost-effective tools to help them do their work. This program 
provides the scientific foundation for weather forecasting on a year-
to-year basis, land-use management, and to protect people, property, 
and the environment from natural disasters. To accomplish this goal, 
Mission to Planet Earth supports scientists in Montana and in other 
U.S. States, to carry out the experiments necessary to expand our 
frontier of understanding Earth.
  This bill also provides authorization for $10 million for the 
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research [EPSCoR] 
Program. This funding will allow NASA to carry out a new competition to 
help NASA develop a stronger presence in the vital academic research 
programs in institutions in rural States like Montana.
  Finally, I would like to note that the bill contains a new provision, 
section 317, which provides insurance, indemnification and liability 
for coverage for the X-33 and X-34 experimental aerospace vehicle 
tests. It draws upon provisions in the Space Act as well as the 
commercial Space Launch Act to provide the necessary coverage to 
continue innovative research and technology development in aerospace. 
It also provides the infrastructure needed to allow NASA to work with 
industry to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The X-33 program 
partners NASA with industry to develop a single-stage-to-orbit reusable 
launch vehicle. The goal is to decrease the cost of getting to space 
while making it safer and

[[Page S10321]]

more accessible. I'm proud that Montana is part of this program. 
Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls has been selected as one of 
the preferred landing sites for the X-33 prototype. Landing at 
Malmstrom will be the longest flight for this 136-ton wedge-shaped 
prototype. Knowledge from these tests will be used to create the next 
generation launch vehicle.
  I believe that we have a bill that provides NASA with the funding 
authorization and policy direction it will need to maintain our world 
leadership in space and aeronautics.
                                 ______